Iwakuma Takes on Giants

The Seattle Mariners are now taking on the San Francisco Giants with Iwakuma taking on his second turn in spring training.  We will see how he does this time around. He is the last of the guys in the starting rotation to complete two games except Felix Hernandez who will make his first appearance on this coming Monday. Felix has pitched some in the bullpen as well as asked the minor leaguers. Most likely he will pitch a second turn against major leaguers before throwing a final game in spring training against minor leaguers. This is the routine that Felix follows through every spring training each year.

The Mariners one again yesterday with Jesus Montero getting two hits and driving in two runs in the eighth inning. Stefan Romero continues to have a really good camp. At this point it is hard to say who will win the right handed hitting platoon first baseman position. It could go any three ways with Romero, Montero and Lee. It is really hard to say where Dipoto and Servais will go if they are equally matched. What makes good for Romero is that he can play the outfield and infield. He started out in the Mariner minor leagues as a second baseman. Also, he has played some third base and most recently the outfield. He hasn’t played much center field however he could play there if necessary.

It is important that Iwakuma continues what he did in his first outing getting all six batters out. Like the other starters we would expect him to go three innings. Just like Paxton it is nice to see that Iwakuma is injury so far. I hope that I am not jinxing them right now.

Speaking of injury it looks like former first round pick Danny Hultzen is at it again. According to Dipoto Hultzen has to decide whether try to continue his baseball career or end it now. The Mariners were hoping that he could continue this year after he was out the last two years and most of the year before by going to the bullpen. He most likely will be out the rest of this year if he expects to continue and if not where will he do next. I am sure the Mariners will try to keep him the organization somewhere possibly as a coach. The days ahead we will find out the next step for Hultzen. We hope the best for him.

At this point Luis Sardinas it looks like he is still the leading candidate to be the utility player when the regular season starts. He is ahead of Chris Taylor and Shawn O’Malley who is starting today at second base.

The other players starting today’s game for the Mariners are Kyle Seager at third, Marte at shortstop and Lee at first base. Efren Navarro will be in left field, Leonys Martin in center and Stefan Romero in right field. Franklin Gutierrez is designated hitter and Chris Iannetta is at catcher. Again Nelson Cruz is not in the lineup. I am sure the Mariners want him healthy and ready for the opening of the season. Most likely he will get some at bats against minor leaguers in same manner that Edgar Martinez when he played for the Mariners. It will be interesting to see who may shine for the Mariners today. Go Mariners!